Journal of Cluster Science最新文献

In this study, a green eutectic phase change material (EPCM) based on a binary mixture of 1-tetradecanol and oxalic acid was synthesized and characterized. This EPCM, demonstrates promising potential as a green and sustainable candidate for low to medium temperature thermal energy storage (TES) applications. To enhance the thermal properties of the synthesized EPCM, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) were incorporated at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt%. This study presents the first direct comparison of these nanoparticles incorporated into a eutectic fatty acid ester based PCM to evaluate their impact on structural and thermal characteristics. The results demonstrate that GNP achieved the superior enhancement. In the sample containing 1 wt% hBN, the enthalpy value decreased to 174 J/g, representing an approximate 4% reduction compared to the pure EPCM, while the thermal conductivity increased by approximately 292%. In the material containing 1 wt% GNP, the latent heat slightly decreased to 176.3 J/g, a reduction of only 2.8%, remaining within optimal limits, while the thermal conductivity increased significantly by 462.8%. These findings suggest that the nanoparticle enhanced EPCM, with 1 wt% GNP demonstrating optimal performance, represents a promising candidate for low to medium temperature solar TES applications.

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Stimuli-response polymeric nanoparticles have emerged as a nanocarrier in the drug delivery systems. In this study, for the first time, a novel stimuli-responsive nanocarrier was synthesized with the combination of N-vinylcaprolactam, allyl alcohol, and carbon disulfide on the tungsten disulfide nanosheets for palbociclib delivery by near-infrared laser irradiation. The successful synthesis of this system was confirmed by different techniques. Response surface methodology and central composite design were applied to optimize conditions. The data shown that the highest sorption efficiency of drug was reached using the nanoadsorbent at pH = 4, contact time of 50 min, initial drug concentration of 20 mg L^− 1, and temperature of 28 °C. The non-linear analysis indicated that drug sorption fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. The in vitro drug release from the nanocarrier was noticeably dependent on pH and temperature. In vitro drug release experiments indicated that the obtained nanocarrier controlled the release of the drug at a temperature of 45 °C and pH = 5.6, achieving 88.48 ± 0.26% release over 6 h. Additionally, most of the drug was released from the nanocarrier within 15 min (> 98%) under near-infrared laser irradiation. Furthermore, the prepared drug delivery system demonstrated that the drug release followed a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism with n = 0.5.

A new α-Mn₂O₃/carbon (Mn₂O₃/C) nanocomposite was synthesised via ultrasonication-assisted co-precipitation, calcination, and freeze-drying. The method involved forming a stable Mn–citrate precursor, which, upon calcination, yielded crystalline α-Mn₂O₃ embedded in a carbonaceous matrix. Structural investigations using FT-IR, XRD, and FE-SEM validated the development of a porous nanosheet morphology, with well-dispersed Mn₂O₃ nanocrystals closely integrated within a carbon matrix. The hierarchical porosity and graphitic domains improved ionic accessibility and charge transfer at the oxide-carbon interface. Electrochemical investigations revealed significant pseudocapacitive characteristics accompanied by Mn redox shifts. The Mn₂O₃/C electrode achieved a specific capacitance of 1700 F g^− 1 at 0.5 A g^− 1 in a 6 M KOH electrolyte. It maintains 94% of its efficiency after 5000 cycles, indicating high recyclability. The synergistic integration of Mn₂O₃ and Carbon in Mn₂O₃/C, along with its structural integrity and effective ion/electron transport, renders the material promising for supercapacitors.

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Accurate quantification of fludarabine (FLD) is of paramount clinical importance due to its narrow therapeutic index, where insufficient dosing compromises anticancer efficacy while overdosing leads to severe immunosuppression and toxicity. Reliable monitoring is therefore essential for personalized therapy and improved patient outcomes. To address this challenge, we designed bimetallic copper–nickel co-doped nitrogen-rich carbon dots (CuNi@NCDs) as a multifunctional nanozyme for dual-mode FLD detection. The synergistic Cu/Ni co-doping endowed the NCDs with robust peroxidase-mimetic activity and enhanced photoluminescence by facilitating H₂O₂ activation into highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (HO^•) and accelerating charge transfer across the carbon framework. This dual functionality enabled simultaneous colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence sensing, providing cross-validated outputs that improve analytical reliability. Mechanistically, FLD selectively inhibited the catalytic activity through strong chelation with Cu/Ni centers while modulating the inner filter effect (IFE) of the oxidation product 2, 3-diaminophenazine (DAP), thereby generating distinct and complementary signal responses. The proposed assay achieved ultralow detection limits (16.0 nM by absorbance and 2.6 nM by fluorescence) and excellent recoveries (96.7–105.0%) in pharmaceutical and biological matrices, outperforming many existing analytical platforms. These findings demonstrate the potential of CuNi@NCD-based nanozymes as robust and versatile tools for clinical monitoring, therapeutic drug management, and broader bioanalytical applications.

This work reveals the significant improvement of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) characteristics via the novel integration of trace quantities of holmium oxide (Ho₂O₃) nanoparticles. XRD verifies the successful incorporation of nanoscale Ho₂O₃ with an average crystallite size of approximately 20.5 nm, resulting in a controllable decrease in polymer crystallinity and demonstrating significant interfacial synergy between the filler and the matrix. FTIR spectra and FESEM, in conjunction with elemental EDX mapping, confirm the uniform dispersion of nanoparticles and strong interactions between the polymer and filler. Optical evaluations reveal a significant rise in UV reflectance with a red shift in the absorption edge that broadens the band gap to 3.08 eV-an unequivocal sign of improved UV-shielding efficacy and heightened transparency in the visible spectrum. Photoluminescence investigations reveal distinct, intense emission peaks resulting from Ho³⁺ 4f-4f transitions, validating the function of Ho₂O₃ as an effective luminescence activator through efficient energy transfer from TPU. Dielectric experiments indicate significant enhancements: dielectric constants increase at low frequencies due to Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars polarization effects, but dielectric losses stay stable, ensuring optimal energy storage capacity. Modulus and impedance investigations demonstrate expedited dipolar relaxation and markedly diminished charge transfer resistance, with Ho₂O₃ nanoparticles facilitating efficient charge mobility pathways. These findings establish TPU/Ho₂O₃ nanocomposites as sophisticated, multifunctional materials with potential applications in next-generation UV-protective coatings, flexible optoelectronic devices, cutting-edge photonics, and efficient energy storage systems.

The development of multifunctional nanomaterials with antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties is of growing interest in biomedical research. In this study, hybrid nanoflowers (hNFs) were successfully synthesized using ellagic acid as the organic component and copper (Cu²⁺), cobalt (Co²⁺), and zinc (Zn²⁺) ions as the inorganic components. The resulting nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Their bioactivities were comprehensively evaluated, including antioxidant capacity (via DPPH and ABTS assays), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, cytotoxic effects on A549 human lung carcinoma cells (MTT assay), antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (MDR E. coli) using the broth microdilution method, and antibiofilm activity against MRSA and MDR E. coli via crystal violet staining. Among the hNFs, EA@Zn-hNFs displayed the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀: 13.50 ± 0.70 µg/mL; ABTS IC₅₀: 0.64 ± 0.01 µg/mL) and AChE inhibition (IC₅₀: 31.00 µg/mL), while EA@Co-hNFs showed the highest antibacterial potency, with MIC values of 16.00 ± 0.58 µg/mL against E. faecalis and 128.00 ± 1.02 µg/mL and 128.00 ± 0.83 µg/mL against both MRSA and MDR E. coli. EA@Co-hNFs also exhibited significant antiproliferative effects. Overall, the synthesized hNFs demonstrated dose-dependent multifunctional bioactivities and hold strong potential for future biomedical applications.

Vanadium-modified TiO₂ nanotubes were successfully prepared via a two-step method combining electrochemical anodization on Ti mesh and nanosecond pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The morphology of samples was discussed using FESEM and TEM techniques. The amount of deposited vanadium is measured using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that deposited V is mainly in the oxidation state of V⁴⁺ and V⁵⁺. Optical properties were analysed using UV-Vis DRS and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). With lower vanadium content (V < 6 wt%), TiO₂ photocatalysts exhibit better photocatalytic activity, while higher vanadium content levels result in reduced activity. This indicates that the 200 V-TiO₂ (V ~ 2.5 wt%) sample degraded p-nitrophenol with an efficiency of 87.6% as opposed to 69.1% for TiO₂, after 300 min under simulated sunlight irradiation. Recycling photocatalytic experiment was performed to assess the durability of the photoactivities of the best V-TiO₂ sample. Photoelectrochemical analyses confirmed that moderate vanadium loading significantly lowers interfacial charge-transfer resistance and optimizes band bending, consistent with enhanced photocurrent density and photocatalytic performance. This study demonstrates that nanosecond PLD enables precise control of surface vanadium content, providing an effective strategy for the design of TiO₂-based photocatalysts for environmental remediation.

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Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy worldwide, with challenges in drug resistance and metastasis. To address these challenges, this study aims to synthesize selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using Ziziphora tenuior L. extract via a green synthesis approach and evaluate their physicochemical and anticancer properties. SeNPs were synthesized by reducing sodium selenite with ascorbic acid in the presence of a plant extract as a stabilizer, followed by drying and calcination. Characterization was performed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. Results confirmed the formation of spherical SeNPs with an average size of 14 ± 2 nm, a hydrodynamic diameter of 130 ± 32 nm, and a zeta potential of -6.2 ± 1.2 mV. Cytotoxicity assays revealed selective toxicity of SeNPs toward SW620 colorectal cancer cells (IC₅₀: 46.91 µg/mL at 24 h, 17.38 µg/mL at 48 h) compared to normal HFF cells (IC₅₀: 89.06 µg/mL at 24 h). SeNPs induced dose-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, G2/M cell cycle arrest, and late apoptosis in SW620 cells, accompanied by upregulated Bax/Bcl-2 and p53 mRNA expression. In conclusion, green-synthesized SeNPs using Ziziphora tenuior L. extract display promising anticancer potential and biocompatibility, supporting their further development as candidates for colorectal cancer therapy.

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The study reports the eco – friendly fabrication and description of selenium–cerium bimetallic nanoparticles (SeCe BNPs) using Cinnamomum Camphora foliage extract. The emergence of SeCe BNPs was established by “UV visible” spectroscopy via observable pigment changes and Surface Plasmon Resonance peaks at 250 nm and 650 nm. Powder X–ray diffraction pattern (PXRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) affirm an amorphous structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR - TEM) identified spherical nanoparticles with an average diameter of 60 nm, exhibiting agglomeration behaviour. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated high stability and a polydispersion composition, while zeta potential analysis confirmed good dispersion. The FT-IR analysis detected significant phytochemicals responsible for reduction and capping. X–ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) ascertained the existence of selenium and cerium along with their respective oxidation states. BET analysis showed a specific surface area of 2.5m²/g, indicating suitability for photo-catalytic applications. Under visible light irradiation, these nanoparticles achieved 97% deterioration of brilliant green dye beyond 120 min. Catalytic performance varied with dye concentration, catalyst dosage, p^H, and temperature. The degradation process was accompanied by both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics, while chemisorption followed a pseudo-second-order mechanism, suggesting chemisorption. The SeCe BNPs exhibited strong bactericidal activity against Gram–negative bacteria and demonstrated enhanced anticancer potential at higher concentrations, making them promising for biomedical applications. This is the first report on the green synthesis of SeCeBNPs using camphora extract for environmental remediation.

The remediation of pharmaceutical-contaminated water bodies is imperative for environmental and public health protection. In this study, a green, one-step in-situ synthesis of Ag@SnO₂ nanocomposite was achieved using Dryopteris cristata leaf extract as bio-reductant and stabilizer. Comprehensive characterization using XRD, PL, FT-IR, UV-Vis., SEM-EDX, TEM-SAED, and BET confirmed the successful incorporation of Ag nanoparticles into the SnO₂ matrix, narrowing the bandgap from 3.16 eV (pure SnO₂) to 2.99 eV and enhancing separation of photogenerated electron-hole (e⁻/h⁺) pairs, contributing to superior photocatalytic performance under visible light. The photocatalyst demonstrated excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation efficiency of naproxen (NPX) (96.85 ± 1.37% in 40 min) via an H₂O₂-assisted photo-Fenton-like mechanism, following pseudo-first-order kinetics (k = 0.0946 min^− 1). The high quantum yield (6.53 × 10^− 2 molecule photon^− 1) and figure of merit (1.67 × 10^− 1) showed the photocatalytic efficiency and energy utilization. The catalyst demonstrated broad efficacy against various pharmaceutical contaminants and maintained robust performance under different conditions and competing inorganic ions. Mechanistic studies, including radical scavenging and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, identified key reactive oxygen species (ROS) and degradation intermediates, while chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) reductions confirmed significant mineralization. This cost-effective, eco-friendly photocatalyst offers high visible-light responsiveness, low catalyst dosage requirements, and excellent reusability up to five cycles, presenting a viable solution for the efficient removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater, contributing toward water sustainability goals.